DISQUS

DaveBrooks · 11 months ago

Similarly (as we noted in the Telegraph) the private Windblown Ski Area in New Ipswich has closed, perhaps for the season, because so many trees were downed on its trails.

Paul Burba · 11 months ago

The logic eludes me as well. I run at Miller State Park almost every day. Last night I went to run late in the day and saw the closure signs for the first time. Keep in mind that the access road up Pack Monadnock, while closed to public vehicle traffic in the winter, was already cleared of downed tree as there are cell towers, FAA antenna, and other gear at the summit that must be maintained. I suspect the parking lot will remained plowed as well, so maintenance crews can get in.

So why not just close the hiking trails? Even that is of dubious merit. Falling limbs are an inherent danger when hiking in New England. Exercising personal responsibility and good judgment and not hiking during high winds after an ice storm is the solution, the state deciding what is best for us and invoking blanket closures is not.

So much for the Live Free or Die spirit.

SPLukeman · 11 months ago

I agree that the winter hiking has it's dangers, That's why some of us do it. I always feel winter hiking has been "hike at your own risk." Every winter trees lose branches or fall down. Yes this area was hit hard but like the NH parks site says the tree will recover. To speed up opening why not use volunteers for trail cleanup. I would also like some explantion of this regulation they quoted. Again don't we live in the live free or die state?